DELAWARE

80 years on, Sussex garden Club continues to bloom

JENNIFER POPIEL
DELMARVANOW CORRESPONDENT
Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Sussex Gardeners Club at a luncheon at Kings Creek Country Club members dressed in vintage attire. From left are: Donna Fellows, Kathy Ackerman, Marty Last, Lucy Fleming, Willa Jones and Karen Coombe.

The Sussex Gardeners Club, the longest running garden club based in Rehoboth Beach, is celebrating 80 years of success. 

The club, founded in 1937, focuses on conservation efforts, community outreach, education outreach and civic beautification with 50 active members dedicating endless volunteer hours to expanding partnerships with local businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations. 

In addition to the various ongoing projects, the club offers many hands-on programs (some open to the public) from June through September. 

Club member Janice Friend discusses some of the garden club features.

The Sussex Gardeners Club was founded in 1937, which makes it the longest running club in all of the U.S. Why do you think the club has been able to flourish for so long?

The oak tree is a traditional symbol for 80th anniversaries. Oak is among the strongest wood types in the world. Oak represents spirituality, wisdom and longevity. It is also able to withstand the extreme pressure that comes with many years of growth.

Due to excellent leadership, the common goal about local beautification, and educating ourselves on the changing needs of our community we have been able to flourish.

What are some of the celebratory highlights the club set out to achieve?

Our 80th anniversary luncheon, garden tours, ongoing projects with Zwaanendael Museum, Cadbury and Gull House garden therapy. All of these events are chaired by great and inspired leadership.

In addition to gardening you designed a birding with preschoolers program in 2014 through 2018. Is this something you plan to continue?

Sussex Gardeners plans to obtain a new children’s book “The Saved Seed” and present a coordinating program at local libraries.

Explain your involvement with garden therapy at Cadbury Assisted Living and Gull House.

A comment from one of our long-term members is noteworthy: “I have been involved with garden therapy for 13 years and have seen how meaningful the greens and flowers that we bring to the guests at Gull House and Cadbury are.

"We have been told by members of the guest families that this is something that they look forward to and do not want to miss. Some of the guests will tell us of the gardens they had and how much their spouse loved the flowers. We as members receive much more than we give in a small amount of time.”

Will the club be invited for a third year to decorate the Zwaanendael Museum and if so, what is the theme you are working on?

The Zwaanendael Museum will again be decorated by the Sussex Gardeners for Christmas. The theme this year is “Victorian Times.” This endeavor is one of our civic beautification projects headed by Donna Fellows and the building comes under a historic classification.

What is your involvement with Meals on Wheels?

At Christmas, Sussex Gardeners prepares over 200 nosegays to be delivered to Meals on Wheels. On the greens we place a small ornament and bow.

How often do you provide workshops and are they open to the public?

Sussex Gardeners has provided workshops on container gardening at our garden tour and plant sale.


IF YOU GO

Sussex Gardeners Club
Where:  All Saints Episcopal Church, Rehoboth Beach
When: Third Thursday of the month from September through June
Info: Membership Chair Jenifer Hagy at 302-226-2993 or jenifer.hagy@gmail.com